For all you Library Lovers - Keep the home fires burning

kennyc · 10-19-2016, 07:06 AM

Great story about Libraries

"Inside the New York Public Library's Last, Secret Apartments

There used to be parties in the apartments on the top floors of New York City's branch libraries. On other nights, when the libraries were closed, the kids who lived there might sit reading alone among the books or roll around on the wooden library carts—if they weren't dusting the shelves or shoveling coal. Their hopscotch courts were on the roof. A cat might sneak down the stairs to investigate the library patrons.

When these libraries were built, about a century ago, they needed people to take care of them. Andrew Carnegie had given New York $5.2 million, worth well over $100 million today, to create a city-wide system of library branches, and these buildings, the Carnegie libraries, were heated by coal. Each had a custodian, who was tasked with keeping those fires burning and who lived in the library, often with his family. "The family mantra was: Don’t let that furnace go out," one woman who grew up in a library told the New York Times....."

http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles...ret-apartments

4691mls · 10-19-2016, 10:58 AM

wow, wouldn't that have been a cool place to live as a kid, with all those books right there!

Cinisajoy · 10-19-2016, 11:56 AM

Andrew Carnegie founded many libraries, not just the NYC library system. I have forgotten where but I have been in a Carnegie library. It was gorgeous.

Apache · 10-19-2016, 12:53 PM

The small town I live in has one although now it is the home for the Valdosta Lowndes County Historical Society and Museum. The library was built in 1913.

Apache

crich70 · 10-19-2016, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

The small town I live in has one although now it is the home for the Valdosta Lowndes County Historical Society and Museum. The library was built in 1913.

Apache

That looks a lot like the old Arabut Ludlow public Library building here in Monroe Wisconsin. Shortly before my dad died a man bought the old clinic building (down off the square and across from the library) and it was remodeled to be the new (larger) library building.

10-19-2016, 07:06 AM	#1
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,898 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	For all you Library Lovers - Keep the home fires burning Great story about Libraries "Inside the New York Public Library's Last, Secret Apartments There used to be parties in the apartments on the top floors of New York City's branch libraries. On other nights, when the libraries were closed, the kids who lived there might sit reading alone among the books or roll around on the wooden library carts—if they weren't dusting the shelves or shoveling coal. Their hopscotch courts were on the roof. A cat might sneak down the stairs to investigate the library patrons. When these libraries were built, about a century ago, they needed people to take care of them. Andrew Carnegie had given New York $5.2 million, worth well over $100 million today, to create a city-wide system of library branches, and these buildings, the Carnegie libraries, were heated by coal. Each had a custodian, who was tasked with keeping those fires burning and who lived in the library, often with his family. "The family mantra was: Don’t let that furnace go out," one woman who grew up in a library told the New York Times....." http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles...ret-apartments

10-19-2016, 12:53 PM	#4
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,277 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	The small town I live in has one although now it is the home for the Valdosta Lowndes County Historical Society and Museum. The library was built in 1913. Apache Last edited by Apache; 10-19-2016 at 12:56 PM. Reason: Added date

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10-19-2016, 10:58 AM	#2
4691mls Wizard Posts: 2,776 Karma: 30081762 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: US Device: ALL DEVICES ARE STOCK: Kobo Clara, Tolino Shine 2, Sony PRS-T3, T1	wow, wouldn't that have been a cool place to live as a kid, with all those books right there!

10-19-2016, 11:56 AM	#3
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	Andrew Carnegie founded many libraries, not just the NYC library system. I have forgotten where but I have been in a Carnegie library. It was gorgeous.

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